287 results about "Adverse weather" patented technology

A method and system for facilitating cost effective, reliable, system redundant, self-driving vehicles involves the employment of specialized lane marking components that permit unprecedented sensor feedback, and in particular, a system and method that enables accurate lane marking recognition despite adverse weather conditions, which presently pose problems experienced by self-driving systems that rely upon vision based camera systems.

Safety systems and methods for driver operated motor vehicles. The systems and methods respond to adverse weather to regulate traffic flow of vehicles, and to change the performance of vehicles in more than two different modes of operation. The systems and methods further locate other vehicles ahead and at the sides of said vehicle, and communicate such locations and proximity of the other vehicles, as well as warning the driver of the danger of collision. The information provided by such systems and methods is communicated to the vehicle driver in such manner that the driver's vision and attention are not diverted away from other traffic conditions ahead of the vehicle.

An inexpensive energy monitoring device and method for measuring energy usage and power costs in real time. The invention can include an external type digital battery powered camera that can be mounted away from and adjacent to the outdoor utility meter on a rotatable arm, which can send data signals to remote locations indoors using wireless such as an RF signal to a detector / display inside the residence. The indoor unit can be programmed to display desirable energy status information to a home owner on power usage and power costs on a daily bases, monthly bases, and yearly bases so that the home owner can budget energy usage and energy costs as needed. A shield can also be used with device and method for shielding power meters from adverse weather conditions.

A system for tracking objects using an Intelligent Video processing system in the context of airport surface monitoring. The system addresses airport surface monitoring operational issues such as all weather conditions, high robustness, and low false report rate. The output can be used to complement existing airport surface monitoring systems. By combining the use of multi-sensors and an adverse weather optimized system, the system is capable of producing an improved stream of information for the target object over traditional computer vision based airport surface monitoring systems.

A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of objects in a vehicle operator's blind spots. The apparatus comprises a side-facing Doppler radar system using continuous wave (CW) transmission with frequency modulation (FM) operation from a frequency modulation switching technique. The radar system determines the presence, range and closing rate of detected targets. The radar system detects targets even when operated in adverse weather conditions and will not generate false warnings due to rain clutter caused by wet roads and other wet surroundings. The radar system uses ranging techniques to reject false targets that are detected outside of a predetermined target detection zone. In accordance with the present invention, the radar system indicates that a target is detected if and only if any part of the target is within the detection zone and it: (1) remains in front of the antenna for at least TH1 seconds; (2) is at a range between Rangemin and Rangemax; and (3) is moving faster than Closing-Speedmin relative to the antenna. By rejecting targets that are closer than Rangemin feet to the antenna, false alarms due to rain clutter are dramatically reduced. Also, by rejecting targets that are further than Rangemax feet from the antenna, the radar system reduces false alarms caused by wet foliage and other wet "non-road" surroundings. In one embodiment, the radar system uses a patch array antenna oriented into a diamond-shape configuration to effectively create a natural linear amplitude taper that aids in rejecting clutter caused by wet road surfaces.

The invention provides a method for cultivating cherry seedlings. The method includes the following steps of collecting and processing seeds, sowing the seeds in nutrition pots in a plastic tunnel, performing managing after sowing, training the seedlings and transplanting the seedlings into a big field. According to the method, the temperature and the humidity for sprouting of the seeds are improved manually, the problem that the seeds do not sprout because of drought and water loss can be avoided effectively, in addition, the seedlings are prevented from the influences of adverse weather such as low temperature and late frost in spring after seedling emergence, good growing environment is provided for the seedlings, and the seedlings come out about one mouth earlier than seedlings sown in the big field. Hill-seeding is performed in the nutrition pots, the emergence rate reaches above 97%, more than ten thousand seedlings can be obtained from 1kg seeds in a hill-seeding mode, however, more than ten thousand seedlings can be obtained from 3-5kg seeds sown in the big field in a drill seeding mode, and the utilization rate of the seeds can be improved by 3-5 times. The height of the seedlings is 10-15cm during transplanting, the seedlings are higher than the seedlings sown in the big field by 3-5cm, transplanting is performed according the same row spacing, the seedlings are grown evenly in land for tree nursery, management is convenient, the seedlings can grow into high-quality big seedlings, and therefore the emergence rate and the seed utilization rate of seedling cultivation are improved more effectively and the seedling cultivation purpose that the seeds are sown in a high-quality and high-efficiency mode is achieved.

The invention relates to an anti-corrosion and super-weatherability powder coating. The coating comprises a base paint and a face paint, wherein the base paint is an anti-corrosion epoxide powder coating and comprises the following components in percentage by mass: 53 to 62 percent of epoxy resin, 3 to 12 percent of curing agent, 5 to 15 percent of pigment, 15 to 25 percent of filler and 2 to 8 percent of auxiliary agent; and the face paint is a super-weatherability polyester powder coating and comprises the following components in percentage by mass: 58.5 to 62.4 percent of carboxyl-terminated polyester resin, 2.6 to 6.5 percent of curing agent, 10 to 20 percent of pigment, 10 to 20 percent of filler and 2 to 6 percent of auxiliary agent. The anti-corrosion and super-weatherability powder coating is a powder coating with super corrosion resistance and super adverse weather condition resistance, such as super ultraviolet ray resistance and the like. The adhesive force between the base paint and the face paint is good; the coating efficiency is high; and the powder coating causes no pollution to environment. The invention also provides a preparation method of the powder coating.

This transformer test control device permits testing of an electrical transformer as installed on a power pole without connecting any high voltage of the power distribution line to the transformer, thereby significantly enhancing the safety of the lineman during the testing procedure. A test control device for controlling the testing of an electrical transformer combines a visual indicator acting as both a power-on indicator and a fuse tester, a voltmeter, a voltage adjustment control, an operator control switch and a fuse as well as terminals for connecting both to an alternating current electrical supply and to the terminals of the primary coil of a transformer to be tested. Additionally, the test control device includes terminals for connecting the device and a secondary circuit to selected output terminals of the secondary coil of the transformer and additional terminals for receiving and retaining the contact portions of voltmeter test probes. The test control device simplifies the transformer testing and aids the lineman in testing while maintaining high standards for safety practices and, especially, during adverse weather conditions. This device may be embodied to include a dedicated second voltmeter. The test control device may be powered by either normal 120 volt line voltage or the output of a power inverter connected to the electrical system of a truck or other motor vehicle in those areas without readily available 120 volt AC power.

A temporary fence system comprises wire mesh segments, poles and base means in a modular structure. Each base element has a generally flat structure so devised as to be placed on the ground. Each pole may be inserted into a base means to hold it in a generally vertical orientation. Each pole may be inserted into one or two wire mesh segments to support them in a generally vertical orientation. Each wire mesh segment may include one or more stiffening areas thereon. A weather compensation unit helps reduce the false alarm rate in adverse weather.

Autonomously driven vehicles operate in rain, snow and other adverse weather conditions. An on-board vehicle sensor has a beam with a diameter that is only intermittently blocked by rain, snow, dustor other obscurant particles. This allows an obstacle detection processor is to tell the difference between obstacles, terrain variations and obscurant particles, thereby enabling the vehicle driving control unit to disregard the presence of obscurant particles along the route taken by the vehicle. The sensor may form part of a LADAR or RADAR system or a video camera. The obstacle detection processor may receive time-spaced frames divided into cells or pixels, whereby groups of connected cells or pixels and / or cells or pixels that persist over longer periods of time are interpreted to be obstacles or terrain variations. The system may further including an input for receiving weather-specific configuration parameters to adjust the operation of the obstacle detection processor.

Display devices in the shape of a flag assembly are provided. The display devices are constructed of solid plastic materials that withstand damage caused by contact with air turbulence or adverse weather conditions, particularly when attached to a mount on a moving vehicle, and that withstand detachment from a mount caused by such air turbulence or adverse weather conditions. The display devices allow an observer to openly view a display when a vehicle is stationary or moving, and allow a motorist of another vehicle to view the display while having an unobstructed view of traffic conditions surrounding the vehicle.

A roof venting system for removing warm and moist air from the interior of a building to the outside through a vent opening in the roof. The system includes a vent, cover member for placement over the vent opening and two foam members through which the indoor warm and moist air must pass when the air flows from the building interior to the outside. The foam members may be provided with a convoluted surface to facilitate close engagement to the roof profile, and a single piece foam may be used instead of the usual two. The foam and cover members may be flexible, reticulated polyurethane treated with one or more substances to enhance fire resistance and protect from heat / cold adverse weather.

A convertible boat top which is mounted on a bass or flats type boat and can be selectively deployed in an extended, functional position to cover occupants of the boat and a stowed, storage position on the side of the boat to prevent interference of the boat top with occupants engaged in fishing or other boating activities. The convertible boat top includes a pair of support stanchions for engaging the boat and a pair of attachment stanchions for engaging the boat in spaced-apart relationship to the support stanchions. A retractable boat top is selectively extendable from the support stanchions and removably engages the attachment stanchions to cover and shield occupants in the boat from adverse weather conditions.

A system of suspended photovoltaic modules relative to a surface wherein modules are suspended generally parallel and spaced apart along the length of dual pairs of catenary cables. A hanger assembly permits initial attachment of a module during installation as the cables are mounted to the rear surfaces of the modules via mid clamp assemblies. End clamp assemblies attach the modules to the cables proximate stanchions having two spaced posts joined by cross beams, a top cross beam angled to define an inclined plane. The respective pairs of cables supporting the modules are joined with cable cross ties to form a catenary shape. The modules may be suspended in a generally consistent inclined plane or a slightly concave curve. The catenary cables and clips are sized and shaped to allow the modules limited sway movement as necessary to reduce stresses and forces during wind or other adverse weather events.

A system and method are provided for advising a pilot if it is safe to continue an approach to landing in adverse weather conditions. The system considers flight parameters from the flight management system, stored runway situational parameters, and weather information. The weather information may include, for example, reports, forecasts, and data collected in real time. The advice may be display as one of a plurality of recommendations based on a comparison of the weather information to a threshold.

A stabilized ultra-high bandwidth capacity transceiver system that combines an E-band (71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz) millimeter wave RF transceiver with an eye-safe adaptive optics Free Space Optical (FSO) transceiver as a combined apparatus for simultaneous point-to-point commercial communications. The apparatus has a high degree of assured carrier availability under stressing environmental conditions. The apparatus establishes and maintains pointing and stabilization of mmW RF and FSO optical beams between adjacent line of sight apparatuses. The apparatus can rapidly acquire and reacquire the FSO optical carrier link in the event the optical carrier link is impaired due to adverse weather.

The invention relates to a high speed variable speed limit control method based on adverse weather conditions. According to real-time change of weather conditions, speed limit values under various weather conditions are automatically adjusted, and speed limit information is issued to a driver by virtue of a variable message sign, thus traffic accident probability is reduced and road traffic safety is improved. In the high speed variable speed-limit control method provided by the invention, real-time weather characteristic parameters are acquired by utilizing meteorological environment testing equipment, speed limit value of a road is automatically adjusted according to various weather conditions, and the defect that the traditional speed limit value of the road is constant can be overcome. The high speed variable speed limit control method has practical engineering application value in the aspects of high speed road traffic management and control according to the adverse weather conditions.

Pre-assembled self installing platforms with improved performance due to additional rotational restraint to supporting legs and methods of installation. The platform includes a hull, legs movable relative to the hull, at least one brace frame movably connected to at least two of the legs. Upon installation, the brace frame may be positioned at a desired elevation and rigidly secured to the legs, providing rotational restraint to significantly reduce leg stress and increase rigidity of the legs. With the increased rigidity, it becomes possible to install platforms in relatively deep waters and harsh environments, and yet preventing large overall platform sway induced by adverse weather or sea conditions. As the brace frame is securable to the legs after the legs or footings are penetrated into or supported on the sea bed, differential penetration of legs or footings into the seabed becomes possible without risking large structural loads in the brace frame.

A bird feeder includes a container having a feeding tray attached to one end, an end cap attached to the other, and a mounting device rigidly mounted to a surface. The bird feeder remains stable, even during adverse weather conditions.

The invention relates to a calculation method for detecting the flow of the section of a river in a non-contact manner. The method includes the following steps that: step 1, a radar is adopted to detect river surface flow data; step 2, open channel flow cross section flow rate distribution is calculated; step 3, a relationship between a surface flow rate and a water depth is determined; step 4, a relationship between the surface flow rate and the average flow rate of the section is determined; and step 5, the total flow of the section is calculated. According to the calculation method of the invention, a radar remote sensing non-contact measurement method is adopted, so that good maneuverability, flexibility and real-time performance can be realized, and highest detection efficiency can be achieved with smallest measurement cost, a widest detection range can be realized, and measurement can be performed in a non-water-contact manner; and therefore, the calculation method is competent for hydrological surface information measurement under complex geological conditions and external adverse weather conditions.

A mouth shield (1) for a microphone headset (4) having a rigid arcuate frame which is attachable to the mouth piece holder (3) of a microphone headset (4) by clasping means (13, 15) so it may be removably attached as desired. The shield (1) has at least one air vent aperture (2) for ease of breathing and proximal audibility. An optional removable foam insert (14) may be adhesively attached to an inner side of the shield (4) to catch saliva while speaking. The shield (1) precludes external visibility of lips while speaking and interference with audibility caused by wind and other adverse weather conditions.

The invention relates to a construction process of an ultra-large-span net-frame arch-shaped shed type storage silo, which is characterized by comprising: obtaining dimensions of node rods of a net frame via a CFD (computational fluid dynamic) numerical wind tunnel computing technology and a finite element algorithm at first according to local weather conditions, the most adverse weather conditions and physical parameters of an arch-shaped shed, i.e. the ball head diameter of each node and geometric parameters of the rods on each node, and preparing a construction drawing, wherein the construction drawing at least comprises the serial number of each node and the number of rods on each node; and dividing construction steps into installation of basic units and installation of overhead cantilever units. Scaffolds are not needed to be erected in a whole house. The invention has the advantages that the time and materials can be saved, and the process is safe and reliable.

A cable reel is disclosed which permits rapid and simple pay out and deployment of cable, retention of cable in operating position, and rapid and controlled retraction of the cable, without overrunning or overwinding of the reel. The reel utilizes a highly functional slip ring capsule which provides positive and continual communications contact and transmission, regardless of adverse weather conditions, handling or operating stresses, or other conditions which would otherwise affect transmissions in prior art devices. It also reduces damage to cables; premature loss of cables through workers' carelessness or deliberate discard of loose cables; operational delays caused by missing cables, or by workers being required to hunt for individual lengths of cable; and delays or malfunctions resulting from having cables of the wrong size, length, weather resistance, etc. A slip-on member prevents damage to the cable tip when the cable is dropped, and a retractable cover prevents damage to the cable tip.

The invention discloses a method for improving traffic video image definition based on a dark channel technology. The method includes the steps that dark channel processing is carried out on traffic video images of a road in adverse weather (like haze and the like) to obtain dark channel images; a sky brightness value is obtained according to the dark channel images; an atomization concentration value is set, and a physical model of the atomized images is set up; a transmittivity distribution law function is improved, defogged images are obtained through processing, and the peak value signal-to-noise ratios are calculated; the peak value signal-to-noise ratios are compared, and the defogged traffic video image with the optimum effect is output. The transmittivity distribution law of the dark channel images is improved, a threshold value is set for the regions which do not meet dark channel priori conditions, and therefore the defogging effect is better; in addition, the quality of image processing is evaluated by introducing the peak value signal-to-noise ratio evaluation method, and therefore the images can be processed more intelligently.

An improved airship having a plurality of resilient gas bags & gas containers, a straight fuselage tubular hull, with an inner air passageway & propulsion means located therein, connecting air inlet, & outlet funnels fore, & aft, with air deflector cones axially positioned therein; further, propulsion, reverse, & directional rocket-thrusters, additionally to typical airship components; furthermore, said airship having improved speed, maneuverability, efficiency, & adverse weather capability, reduced forward air resistance, & rearward drag in the air; and propulsive, attitudinal, & directional control in space.

The present invention provides an instant tent with an integral vent and corresponding rain fly for providing the tent with continuous ventilation while protecting the vent and interior of the tent from adverse weather conditions. The frame of the tent includes a hub, a plurality of roof poles and eave poles pivotally coupled to the hub, and a plurality of leg poles coupled to the corresponding roof poles. Coupled to the frame is an enclosed canopy which includes the vent at a top portion of the canopy to allow air from continuously entering and exiting the interior of the tent. The rain fly is attached to the canopy and corresponding eave pole, and is disposed proximate the vent. Thus, the instant tent of the present invention is provided with secure and continuous ventilation, and is opened and closed without requiring additional assembly of components.

FAA regulations mandate that a pilot must have sufficient visibility to see the airport, and then the runway before landing; and sufficient visibility to see a substantial portion of the runway before taking off. In adverse weather conditions when visibility is reduced flights are cancelled, delayed, and rerouted to land where visibility is adequate. Poor visibility is one of the major causes of air traffic fatalities. One aspect of this invention discloses a method of illuminating an aircraft landing location to facilitate identification and aircraft guidance thereto comprising the following steps: projecting a laser beam upwardly from the location so that an aircraft may be better able to target the landing location particularly in conditions of poor visibility. A preferred aspect of this invention provides for a method as above wherein the landing location comprises a runway and wherein the laser beam is projected upwardly from the runway and in a direction of the approach to the runway so that aircraft wanting to land can be guided to the runway. Most preferably the beam oscillates up and down so that generally a triangular wall of light is projected. With two beams, each projected from an opposite side of the runway and each projecting upwardly, towards the approach to the runway, and slightly away from a centerline of the runway side portions of a funnel indicating an approach to the runway may be projected.

A method and system for facilitating cost effective, reliable, system redundant, self-driving vehicles involves the employment of specialized lane marking components that permit unprecedented sensor feedback, and in particular, a system and method that enables accurate lane marking recognition despite adverse weather conditions, which presently pose problems experienced by self-driving systems that rely upon vision based camera systems.